trevorflowers

trevorflowers, 1 day ago to random

TIL from the Backyard Ballistics restoration channel about micropulse tig welders like the Lampert PUK. They provide precision deposition of hard metals with relatively low heat spread which is great for repair and tiny part assembly.
#machining #miniatures #welding
https://www.lampert.info/en/products/dental/puk-d6/
https://youtu.be/wcnULURtt00

trevorflowers, 4 days ago to random

As I caught myself considering whether to manufacture 1:3 scale tubular cam locks for smol computer panels I decided that my 12yo self would be confused but happy about how this phase of my life unfolded.

I told my friend the other day that I feel a bit post-singularity in the sense that ~three years ago I left a straight-forward career and at the same time the world went sideways so I have ~no ability to predict what will happen even next year.

Surprisingly, I'm mostly OK with it. 🤷

trevorflowers, 4 days ago to retrocomputing

My new tactic with insomnia is to use those involuntary conscious hours as bonus time for CAD. Last night I started laying out a 1:3 scale front panel of a PDP-11/70 for the Desktop Computer Lab rack: https://codeberg.org/trevorflowers/desktop-computer-lab/
When I was sleepy again I started a test print and went to bed so as soon as I've broken fast I'll go see how it turned out.
#retrocomputing #FreeCAD #pdp11 #desktopComputerLab #miniatures

trevorflowers, 5 days ago to kicad

Just one of these schematics is correct. Can you see why?
#kicad

A screenshot of a circuit schematic with all labels correctly in place.

trevorflowers, 5 days ago to random

I do love a weathered terminal with a Fresnel lens.
https://hackaday.io/project/196223-post-apocalyptic-terminal

trevorflowers, 7 days ago to random

405nm light printers are amazing EOM

A close-up photo of six printed pegs with the letters QWERTY embossed on them. They are roughly 6mm tall, so tiny!

trevorflowers, 11 days ago to random

Groggy morning thought: A GPS receiver remade and weathered to look like a piece of equipment carried by a famously lost traveler like Amelia Earhart or Peng Jiamu.

trevorflowers, 12 days ago to random

There are people like me who make small stuff and then there's this joker, out there showing us How It's Done.
I fell out when he made the dash parts.
https://youtu.be/tlfTFadX2k8

trevorflowers, 14 days ago to random

I kind of love how people post that FreeCAD is unlearnable and unusable and then on the same page of my timeline are posts about amazing projects made with FreeCAD.
I'm not pointing fingers or drawing any conclusions other than it's a funny situation.
Use whatever software works for you.

trevorflowers, 17 days ago to random

I want to see a few trustworthy reviews before I have an opinion but if this wire EDM kit works as advertised then it could be ideal for my tiny workshop.
#machining
https://youtu.be/lVW18j41Ew4
https://rackrobo.io/

trevorflowers, 18 days ago to random

If I ever pierce my ears for ornamental reasons then I am 100% making and wearing earrings with miniature floppies, zip disks, tape reels, punch cards, and any other digital media that strikes my fancy.

trevorflowers, 19 days ago to random

Current status: Watching Eurorack tutorials and fighting the urge to pick up a new hobby. For science! 😸

trevorflowers, 19 days ago to Watches

Oh, dang. Behrens made a sick lightweight and curvy wristwatch. Even if it was free I couldn't wear it but as a machine-minded person I love the stuffing out of the engineering, manufacturing, and aesthetics.
#horology #machinist
https://youtu.be/GOqzjrPnWao

trevorflowers, 20 days ago to random

This is a thoughtful piece about the balancing act of making physical things. How long should they work? What do recycling, repair, and durability bring to the equation? Whether you're making one-offs or runs of 110k, I think this is worth your time.
#manufacturing #machining
https://www.core77.com/posts/132088/Fantastic-Industrial-Design-Student-Work-How-Long-Should-Objects-Last

trevorflowers, 20 days ago to random

The Konmari tidying method breaks the initial discard into phases by categories: clothes, books, papers, misc, and sentimental items. I wonder what the categories are for a home workshop because it can't all be misc.
#konmari #shopLife

trevorflowers, 21 days ago to random

You know that thing where you order something online without understanding its size? Well, my new mill vice came in. 😉
#machining #shopLife

trevorflowers, 21 days ago to random

I've fallen down the rabbit hole of clock movements and it's good fun! My favorite advancement so far is the modern spring drive that merges satisfying mechanical features with a clever bit of silicon and quartz to keep more accurate time without a chemical battery.
https://youtu.be/jVoRoK1u3Dg

trevorflowers, 22 days ago to random

I kind of love the messed up mechanisms spit out by Midjourney.
How many hairsprings and escapement wheels does this thing have?!

trevorflowers, 23 days ago to Watches

TIL that an org, the COSC, that certifies mechanical watch movements for timekeeping accuracy accepts -4 to +6 seconds of deviation per day.
A ten second spread each day!
I like machines as much as anybody and my life wouldn't be changed by that error but knowing that my timepiece has that much slop in it would give me cold chills.
I guess I'll stick with devices set with NTP.
#horology #obsession

trevorflowers, 24 days ago to random

If you ever want to get me a gift, this would work. 😹
But for real, that's a gorgeous Unimat collection.
https://youtu.be/opp-jWOWOrM

trevorflowers, 28 days ago to random

I do love me a slab portable.
I wonder whether I could sell a short run of mechanical keyboards designed to drop into these projects.
https://github.com/crazycaleb2008/T3rminal

trevorflowers, 1 month ago to random

Now that's a cutie pie SBC portable.
https://www.hackster.io/news/arduboy-s-kevin-bates-is-back-with-an-esp32-s3-powered-all-in-one-the-singleboard-alpha-a4bdecc703c5

trevorflowers, 1 month ago to random

Dang, that's a sweet leg. The ankle motion is especially slick though I wonder about using hard linkages instead of opposing and balanced tendons.
https://youtu.be/wLFCMwRvhVI

trevorflowers, 1 month ago to random

I see many randomized scenarios while working in a college machine shop. It looks like this will be my last quarter helping out as there is a changing of the guard on the way. Only 14 more classes and then that'll be the end of a fun three years with that shop and crew.
#shopLife

trevorflowers, 1 month ago to random

This article about how Boeing stripped themselves of capabilities is behind a paywall but these two paragraphs tell the story.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/boeing-corporate-america-manufacturing/678137/